CRTC Takes First Step to Force Big Telecom Giant to Play Fair

CRTC stands up to Rogers and demands Internet openness

September 16, 2011 – Today’s events marked a small victory for Internet openness: the CRTC, Canada’s telecom regulator, has given Rogers ten days to correct their discriminatory slowing down of online games. OpenMedia.ca, a public engagement group that promotes an open and accessible Internet, is calling this a landmark decision.

“The CRTC is finally taking a stand to enforce its rules and stand up against the Big Telecom lobby,” says Steve Anderson, the pro-Internet group’s executive director. “This represents a move towards more Internet openness and accessibility—the core of a vibrant, democratic communications system in the digital age.”

The Canadian Gamers Organization, a group of concerned citizens who raised the alarm at the CRTC when Rogers began throttling the game World of Warcraft, wrote to the CRTC repeatedly to demand that Rogers comply with Internet traffic management policies. This decision is the result of their grassroots efforts and the work of public interest lawyers at CIPPIC, a member of OpenMedia.ca’s network.

OpenMedia.ca pushed for and won Internet openness rules in 2009, but has since been forced to fight for enforcement of those rules. As of now, the CRTC neither performs audits of Internet service providers to ensure they are complying with openness rules, nor has it been given the power to significantly punish ISPs who violate these rules. The CRTC action against Rogers represents a potential first step in changing this broken system.

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Contact

Lindsey Pinto
Communications Manager, OpenMedia.ca
778-238-7710
[email protected]

About OpenMedia.ca

OpenMedia.ca is a non-partisan, non-profit public engagement organization working to advance and support an open and innovative communications system in Canada. Our primary goal is to increase informed participation in Internet governance.

OpenMedia.ca is best-known for coordinating the “Stop The Meter” campaign earlier this year. The Stop The Meter campaign is widely considered the largest online citizens’ campaign in Canadian history involving nearly half a million Canadians.

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